creators home
creators.com lifestyle web

Recently

As Is DEAR SUSAN: I guess that at this stage of life (age 63), I'm willing to be the exact same man a woman wants, as long as that doesn't involve change. Sounds kind of selfish at first hearing, but I expect to return the favor — or not find her …Read more. Courage DEAR SUSAN: If, as you believe, courage is the passport from old stale patterns, then only the brave are sure to get their dreams fulfilled. But if the answers to our questions are inside us, why don't we just take a peek? — From the …Read more. Womanstrong DEAR SUSAN: Your quiz question about whether strong, assertive women turn men off made me write to you. Even men with assertive, strong mothers seem to like women who are bubbly and interesting without being too independent. Often, it is hard for me …Read more. Woman Defined DEAR SUSAN: You asked us whether men and women can be friends or whether they're too dissimilar. I find that men I've already had relationships with may continue to be friends with me — but at an arm's length. The emotional closeness in a …Read more.
more articles

Sorting Sex, Part 1

Comment

The best way to do these questions justice is to read them through in one sitting, let them marinate awhile and then read them again and give your responses. Some may trigger immediate responses; others take more thought. But however you approach this exercise, please do not give the pat answer; search deeper for your real belief. Oh, another thing: If you so choose, this is for your eyes only.

—How do you feel about sex outside marriage? Does your religion, upbringing or personal morality make it out of bounds? Would denying those inner controls upset you so much that sexual activity in any form would be regretted?

—If you can enjoy sex outside marriage, how do you feel about sex outside caring?

—Would you get involved with someone even if you knew it was to be for a very short time — perhaps only one night? Under what circumstances?

—Can you imagine having sex on the very first date? If so, what ingredients would be needed? If not, when is a reasonable amount of time to begin sexual involvement?

—Ideally, how often would you like to have sex? How long can you go without it?

—Can you imagine having a married lover? Why or why not?

—Would consider having a sexual relationship with multiple lovers? (This deals with plural ongoing relationships, not group sex.)

—Do you enjoy periods of celibacy? For how long? Are you ever concerned about losing your sex drive?

—What do you think about giving yourself sexual pleasure? Masturbation is still taboo for some, but it's an issue you should resolve, given the episodic nature of sex in the unmarried world.

—If you are sexually active, have you settled on a safe and effective method of contraception?

—What do you most appreciate about sex? What makes it wonderful for you?

—Do you/would you ask a new partner his/her history of sexually transmitted disease before becoming intimate, even though it may be embarrassing?

—How do you plan to handle pressure from a date (or a partner) to have sex when you'd rather not?

—If you're a single parent, are you clear about your policy about sleepover lovers? Have you a way of separating the fulfillment of your adult needs from those of your children? How explicitly do you talk to your children about your own sexual fulfillment?

—Do you feel comfortable telling your partner (in detail) the pleasure points you enjoy most?

—How strongly do you feel about the answers you have given here? What, if anything, would change your mind about them?

—Do you feel you could adapt your sexual attitudes to make yourself more comfortable while unmarried? If so, what changes would you make?

You may want to talk out some of the questions with a close friend, especially when they defy resolution.

The attention you give each other will make some tough questions easier to resolve. That's the idea behind these questions.

Have a question for Susan? You can reach her directly at sumor123@aol.com.

COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM



Comments

2 Comments | Post Comment
Susan, To answer most of your questions one must find a willing partner so I would think ones answers would be dependent on how long it had been since they had sex.
Comment: #1
Posted by: J
Wed May 1, 2013 2:16 PM
1. As a personal choice for me, I feel it is ok. Sexual pleasure is something nature has given us to be enjoyed, and was around long before the institution of marriage ever entered as a human notion. But I don't judge anyone else on their personal choices.

2. I don't understand what one question has to do with the other. After all, there are plenty of married people who don't care about each other (just check the myraid advice letters elsewhere on this site), and plenty of people who care very deeply about each other who choose not to get married for various reasons. When it comes right down to it, other than what someone else defines, sex and marriage have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

3. Absolutely, if the chemistry was hot enough, we knew our time was limited, we both understood that it would be a short-term thing, we both used protection and established that we were disease-free.

4. I've done it before. In some cases it led to a relationship, in others I never saw the person again. I dated my first love for over a year and we never had sex, yet the relationship ended quite badly (and incidentally, the next guy she dated bedded her after dating about a week). And I had sex with my wife of 11 years the first day I met her. I've found that sexual compatibility is only a very small part of whether a relationship works or not and for how long When you discover it or how, whether on the first date or the 15th, doesn't make any difference. There is no sex partner I've had where I've said, maybe if I'd waited longer we would have had a better relationship, or maybe if I didn't do it with them so soon we might have gotten along better.

5. Every other day would be nice. If I go without for more than a couple of weeks and don't masturbate, I have some difficulty with ejaculation once I start again...takes a few times to "warm up the pipes" I guess.

6. I certainly could...as long as their spouse had full knowledge and gave full consent to such a relationship. What I won't do is sneak around and cheat, hiding relationships from people who need to know.

7. Absolutely. I've done it for years, with full knowledge and consent of all involved.

8. I don't enjoy celibacy, and hope I keep my sex drive as long as possible. I know as I get older it could diminish, but it hasn't happened yet and I intend to hang on as long as I can.

9. Masturbation is awesome, and I do it often.

10. I'm snipped...no better birth control than that.

11. I love the energy, the foreplay, the touch, the sensuality, and the afterglow. Everything about sex excites me.

12. Always. And it's not embarrassing for me at all. If my potential partner won't discuss it, they're not ready for sex and I won't do it with them.

13. I have no problem telling someone "no" if I'm just not feeling it. That's really the only word you need.

14. I have no children and never will, so never have to deal with this issue.

15. Yes...I'm a firm believer that 90% of sex is communication.

16. Since I've asked myself these questions for years, I'm 100% confident that they represent who I am sexually.

17. So far my sexual attitudes work very well for me, married or not. Just need to follow a few basic rules: First, get tested regularly, Second, communicate with your partner...not only about diseases and physical protection but also about what sex means emotionally for them and for you, as well as for you as a couple, what they like to do, and what you like. And above all...enjoy!
what you like, and physical and emotional boundaries of what they will and won't cross.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Paul W
Thu May 2, 2013 2:57 PM
Already have an account? Log in.
New Account  
Your Name:
Your E-mail:
Your Password:
Confirm Your Password:

Please allow a few minutes for your comment to be posted.

Enter the numbers to the right:  
Creators.com comments policy
Other similar columns
Amy Alkon
The Advice Goddess
by Amy Alkon
Jan Denise
Larry Meeks
Ethnically Speaking
by Larry Meeks
More
Susan Deitz
May. `13
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
About the author About the author
Write the author Write the author
Printer friendly format Printer friendly format
Email to friend Email to friend
View by Month